AIBU TO BUY A PUSHCHAIR FOR DD'S AGE 5 AND 7?

[Coffeecreamers]

AIBU to buy a pushchair this year to go to Orlando? Sold our pushchair a while back but we are going to Orlando in late July and it's going to be really bloody hot. We are planning on spending the majority of the 2 weeks at the parks. We walk to and from from school every day which takes 30 minutes and the 5 year old is tired by the time she gets home. Both of them were knackered when we went to Thorpe Park this year. I know people will be judgey if we do but I actually want to enjoy this holiday. AIBU to take a pushchair, not for them to sit in all the time but just as a means of a little respite?

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

You shouldn't have booked Florida in July if the idea of heat bothers you. Only a fool does that. November-February is better temperature wise.

As for the pushchair, I don't fancy your chances of finding one that will work, and as somebody who has to push a nearly five year old about in a Maclaren Major I'd roll my eyes big time if I saw you toting able children about in a buggy just to satisfy your own selfishness.

[m0therofdragons]

I find this weird. I have an 8yo and 2 four year olds. I wouldn't try to get any of them back in a pushchair. We took dds to Canada when they were 22 months and 4 years old. Never occurred to me to put dd1 in a pushchair. She happily walked 7 miles round a frozen lake etc.
With the excitement of everything going on I can't imagine a 7yo sitting in a buggy. If they're really tired one day then maybe hire one but seems unnecessary to me.

[AaoograhaHoa]

Hmmm, ds would look at me like I had gone bananna's if I asked him to climb into a buggy. He's 7yrs old and did a 10mile hike with us at the weekend... YABU, take water, plan rests and enjoy!

[eurochick]

You've got more than two months - get them in training. Lots of long weekend walks.

[SparklesandBangs]

It's a while since DD2 was 5 but I know that we used a buggy on a trip to Orlando when she was 4 or 5, we didn't take it with us just picked up a cheap one in Walmart when we got there, then left it behind, far cheaper than the ones in the park and much easier to push. The downside being that there is not much room for stuff and DD1 who would have been 7 wouldn't fit. We just had a rucksack that we hung off the back or turned around onto the seat if we left it outside at any point.
DD1 went at 18months with buggy, then at 5 when she hopped into her sisters when needed and then at 7 without.
But if your 7 year old is tired she will not look out of place in a buggy.

[Binkermum29]

We took a 3 and a 5 year old to the Magic Kingdom for a week without the need of any buggies.
We paced ourselves.

[TheWitTank]

Took DS and DD aged 7 and 9 last year in roasting hot August and they were absolutely fine walking all the parks, no need for buggies. Just take breaks, LOTS to drink, and try to go to the parks in the early evening where the temp drops a bit (not a lot though!). Seriously, you do not want to be struggling with a heavy child in a buggy in thar heat, you won't last 5 minutes. They will be absolutely fine, the excitement will get them round and when you are in the lines for the rides you get a break anyway to rest legs and stand in the air con!

[Oriunda]

I use a carrier with my 4yr old DS when he gets tired - there are plenty of preschooler sized ones. I'm pretty strong through so used to the weight. When he was tired after jet lag when we were at Universal and he wanted a quick nap I'd pop him in. You could visit a sling library (enquire before to check stock) and borrow one?

[Sunnydaysrock]

Definitely get one! Have done Florida 6 times. Last year was the first time with no pushchair when the kids were 11 and 7!! Judge all you want but it's soooo hot and tiring and if you all want to enjoy it you'll want the option. One year we bought a dirt cheap one in Walmart after thinking we might get away with out one, so that could be an option to save lugging it around airport.

[Strokethefurrywall]

There seems to be an awful lot of anger on this thread, fucking hell.

"...I'd roll my eyes big time if I saw you toting able children about in a buggy just to satisfy your own selfishness." Spiteful much?

OP, get a stroller, do whatever you need to to make the holiday that you and your DH have saved for a good one. Nobody gives a crap when you're there.

And if it makes you feel any better, I'm going to be there the last week in August for a wedding when it will be the approximate temperature of the sun. And I'll be toting a 4 year old and a 2 year old with me. May use one of the park strollers, may not, depending on just how exhausted they get. I live in the Caribbean though so I'm used to the heat and humidity.

The only thing I will say is that doing a park every day for 2 weeks is going to get very dull very quickly and you will be absolutely exhausted and if you're planning on being there every day from 9-6, you'll have done the entirety of the parks in the first week! Do a park every other day and intersperse each with some chill time in a water park or by the pool. If you can, space the day 9-1pm, come back to your hotel for some lunch, a lie down what have you, and then back to park at 3.30-4pm and stay for the evening celebrations. Much quieter in the parks around 4pm.

[FluffyPineapple]

I thought I was pushing it when I bought a cheap buggy in Spain last year for my 3 year old - just so we could go out during the evening. Sorry but a buggy for a 5 and 7 year old? if they get tired at the theme park maybe they could be taken back to the hotel to recharge their batteries? OTH I'm sure there will be enough going on to keep them awake

[hazeyjane]

and as somebody who has to push a nearly five year old about in a Maclaren Major I'd roll my eyes big time if I saw you toting able children about in a buggy just to satisfy your own selfishness.

Why does your DC needing a buggy mean that you would judge the op? Why is it selfish??

[Windsofwinter]

I think my 7yo would be absolutely mortified if I tried to get him in a pushchair!

[Oriunda]

When we went to Orlando last year with DS our Universal ticket was valid for 14 days but tbh at his age - 4yrs - 3 full days was enough and we went to St. Pete's beach for a few days. Thoroughly recommend taking some days out for a beach breather. Next time we go we'll have a few days at the parks, head to beach again and then back to the parks to finish.

If you hire a buggy out there they're tested to higher weights. Our Hauck Torro says up to 25kg on the US website. In Italy it's quite normal to see 6/7 yr olds in buggies (Italian brands) because the late night culture means that kids are taken out at all hours and usually in buggies by the end of the night.

[FarrowandBallAche]

There's not a chance on Earth DS would have got in a pram at 7 years old.

[RockNRollNerd]

Agree with those saying full days at the parks may be too much (for all of you) - when we went for a fortnight with DS aged 5 we had a mix of early start days where we wrapped up not long after lunch then back to the villa/pool and late starts where we then stayed until dinner time. When we did the late shows we didn't rock up until lat afternoon.

That said when DS was 5 he walked round all the parks no problem - being at Disney where you're always walking to something exciting and there is lots going on around you is very different to a walk to school and then back again at the end of the day.

You mention sometimes doing two parks in a day but unless you're going to a different one for the evening (which we did maybe after an early morning then a lazy afternoon (including siestas for all!) then don't underestimate the time getting in and out of the parks. At Magic Kingdom I estimate it's at least 45 mins if not an hour from paying at the entrance with your car to being at the start of main street. Although at other parks you don't have to get the monorail/boat to the entrance the car parks are still some way away and there's nearly always a tram ride to the entrance from where you've parked. Add in driving time and if you did say MK in the morning then Epcot in the afternoon (when you'd be parking at the back so definitely tramming it to the entrance) you're looking at the best part of at least 90 mins 'travelling' time getting out of one park and then into the next one.

[RockNRollNerd]

Also - you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment if you really try to 'see and do everything' in two weeks. We ended up there for nearly a month when DS was 5 (volcano related) and still didn't do it all. This time when we were there I stood in a queue behind someone who had a laminated day planner hanging off their backpack - it was down to the mnute (I kid you not) allowing stuff like 8 mins to walk from one ride to the next one they wanted to do. It's hot and busy - you cannot plan Disney to that extent in my experience - sometimes rides have delays, someone needs the loo or you just decide that the next 20 mins are going to be spent getting a drink and a pretzel and sitting in the shade.

Be realistic - spend some time researching the parks (Brit Guide to Orlando is very useful) and work out what you really want to see and do. Plan to see some of the shows at the parks - at places like Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdon there are a number of theatre based things that take you into the cool and sat down for 30 mins to an hour. Couple with a cold drink and a snack that was plenty fine to revitalise DS (and us!)

[CurlsLDN]

As well as the buggies to hire within the parks, there are companies that will hire you a buggy for the week or two that you are there - meaning you can take it from park to park. I was reading a comparison of taking buggy with you vs buying in Walmart vs hiring in the park vs hiring this way earlier and costs involved on this site
wdwprepschool.com/a-toddler-centered-disney-world-trip-plan/

[amarmai]

got 2B a great 2nd hand shop selling buggies in Orlando.

[LagunaBubbles]

as somebody who has to push a nearly five year old about in a Maclaren Major I'd roll my eyes big time if I saw you toting able children about in a buggy just to satisfy your own selfishness.

What a nasty post.

[blueskyinmarch]

Another thought - you can’t take any pushchairs into the ride queues so maybe bear that n mind when deciding on this. Sometime you can be queuing for over an hour for a ride (but the queues tend to be shaded)..

[MLGs]

Surely best to just all have a rest every now and then together. So you get a rest too, eg all stop for a snack/ coffee or sit on a bench or whatever.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

For all the disclaimers about 'of course I don't mean SN' comments about 'they should walk like normal children' and 'bigger kids look ridiculous in buggies' are still quite hurtful to people whose kid have to use buggies at an older age.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

angielou123

I've always been one to hate seeing 'too old' children in buggies. It usually means either the child's too lazy to walk or the mum is too lazy to control them.

No it doesn't really. Kids with mobility issues don't wear signs saying so.. They look like big kids in buggies. Think before judging.